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Immortal Journey
The Tales of Heracles, Leo, Cancer,
Sagittarius, Centaurus, Draco, Sagitta and Cerberus
Chapter 4: The Golden-Horned
Hind of Cerynes
For a year Heracles tracked the golden-horned
Hind of Cerynes through the Arcadian forests. The deer was easy
to follow, for all Heracles would have to do was climb a high tree,
watching for a flash of light as the sun reflected off the deer's
golden horns. The deer leaped delicately over fallen trees and swiftly
moving streams, but even though it moved rapidly, its golden horns
always gave its whereabouts away as they reflected any ray of light
that managed to reach the forest floor through the thick canopy
of leaves.
For a year the golden-horned Hind of Cerynes watched the giant follow
him. He was always close behind. No matter how fast the deer would
move, no matter how high an obstacle he would jump, the man was
never left behind for long. He knew the giant didn't wish to kill
him or his arrows would have come long ago. The trees had gone through
many changes since this man first appeared in Arcadia. This was
a very strange man, as most didn't like to be away from the company
of their own kind for such a long time. Since he was so very large
maybe he wasn't really a man after all, but a god. The Hind of Cerynes
grew tired of this game and of this giant. He decided to try to
lose his stalker on the Artemisium Mountain where he would cross
the Ladon River, for the mountain was dark and the river was deep.
If the giant found him there, he surely was a god.
Heracles was bored with the chase. If he didn't finish this task
he would never get to the other eight he must still complete. For
a year Heracles looked for a way to capture the deer without injuring
it, now he was ready to fulfill his task in the most expedient way
possible.
As the Hind of Cerynes crossed the Ladon River, one of his rear
legs collapsed stinging. Heracles had seen the deer start across
the river. It was still very shallow, but he could also see that
soon the river deepened and the current was swift. His only chance
was to act quickly. He grabbed one of Apollo's golden arrows and
stopped the deer in midstream.
Heracles carefully picked up the deer and placed it across his shoulders
as he set off for Tiryns. As night fell, Heracles was still on the
road and was confronted by Artemis and her brother Apollo. "How
dare you harm and steal my sacred deer!" Artemis said. She grabbed
for the animal but Heracles dodged her hand. "You insult us further
by harming my deer with one of the golden arrows Apollo gave you
as a gift."
Heracles looked the goddess in the eye and said most convincingly,
"Dear goddess of the night and Arcadia's sacred creatures, it was
not my wish to steal or harm this deer. It is my master Eurystheus
who forced me to do this. I am simply doing what I am told. Your
argument is with him."
Artemis and Apollo turned whispering to each other. "We have considered
what you said," Artemis said as they turned back to face Heracles,
"and we agree that it is not your fault. We will take care of the
problem at its source. Good evening to you and may you have a speedy
journey," she said as she and her brother vanished into the night.
On the walk back to Tiryns with his load, Heracles fantasized what
type of visitation the goddess might make to Eurystheus. Although
he was never to find out, the images he conjured up on the long
trip back pleased him.
Copreus was at the gate when Heracles approached. "I see you have
the golden-horned Hind of Cerynes, and the creature is alive. Eurystheus
will be pleased." The herald left, only to return a few minutes
later. "Our master says to leave the animal by the gate. Your fourth
labor will be to capture the Erymanthian Boar. He can be found on
the Erymanthus Mountain in the land of Psophis where he has been
rooting up the crops and attacking young children." The herald turned
to leave, but realized he had forgotten something and, with shaking
hands, he opened the gate. "Just place the deer inside," Copreus
said.
Heracles lifted the animal inside and caught a glimpse of the palace.
Frightened but curious faces poked out of every window and from
the corner of his eye, he even saw the face of Eurystheus. "How
foolish of them to be afraid of me," Heracles thought, "I've done
nothing to any of them. Why, I even brought this animal back alive.
Oh well, I will do as I am told and won't think about anything else."
Heracles stepped back and the gate quickly slammed shut behind him.
Tales of
the Immortal Night ©2003, J.J. Kuhl
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